It’s Official: Episcopal Church Welcomes Transgender People

posted Jul 10, 2012, 4:31 PM by Mel Soriano

It’s Official: Episcopal Church Welcomes Transgender People

July 9 was a historic day for the Episcopal Church as it
declared that gender identity and gender expression are not reasons for
excluding someone from the discernment process for ordination, nor from any
other activity or lay position in the Church.

In 1994, the Episcopal Church expanded its
non-discrimination rules to include “sexual orientation,” but it has taken a
great deal of patient work from transgender people and their allies to bring
the Church to this point. Integrity's President, Caroline Hall explained, “just
as the Church began to accept gay and lesbian members and clergy as fellow
members of the Church with just as real a relationship with God, so over the
past five years, trans-men and -women have become visible. Their ministry among
us has been exemplary and they have worked tirelessly to help the Church
understand that to be transgender is as valid a human experience and as
acceptable to God as to be happily heterosexual.”

A few months before General Convention, Integrity released a
new video in the acclaimed “Voices of Witness” series. Called “Out of the Box,”
this video tells the story of transgender Episcopalians, both ordained and lay,
in their own words. It was sent to all deputies and bishops before the
Convention began, but demand has been high. Matt Haines, Integrity
Vice-President for Local Affairs, said, “They’ve been going like hotcakes.
People really love Out of the Box
and want to take it home to share with their friends and parishes.” It is also
available on YouTube.